I admire the application of paint in Rinpa-style work, in which ink and mineral pigements are applied wet on wet to produce these attractive pools of color.

Above, detail.

The technique is called tarashikomi. Where did it come from? Personally, I think it wouldn't be crazy to suggest that they were trying to approximate effects they had seen accomplished by ceramists and lacquer artists, whom they worked alongside at the time.

The first two pieces remind me of Art Nouveau, although they're more naturalistic and less obviously stylized. The close-up of the first piece immediately made me think of Whistler. The ink piece, specifically the rock, recalls Piranesi somehow; it looks like an etching.

2.

Franklin

August 2, 2006, 6:51 PM

That's astute of you, Jack. The curator mentioned that the last piece resembled woodblock versions of Chinese works, indicating that the style of reproduction influenced the Japanese derivations.

I think Whistler was interested in Japanese Art he did a dining room which was moved to a museum somewhere (I saw it) and it was very Japanese inspired Was this before Wright's Robie House(1903) I think Whiatler did these things before-like just after the Impressionists got interested in Japanese prints(1880's)
Some of the greatest innovations come from one culture imitating another the great 18th century decorative art explosion was inspired by Oriental (esp. Chinese) designs. Gothic architecture taking it s cue from Islamic Architecture. Or how about the Fountainbleau as a re interpretation of French design. Or maybe Japanese Animation as a response to Western /American animation.What s great about it is that something new comes out of it that is often so different from what inspired it that we don t even make the connection at first.I meas does Picasso s work look at all African?
and that s without even mentioning music.